[TU] 25: Chapter 25: Shinsuke: Were You Made by EA?!
[TU] Hall’s mind was a complete mess.
He couldn’t understand why this monster, who could sprint across the sea and casually summon a water dragon, was asking questions that even drunks in a tavern knew the answers to.
But he didn’t dare hesitate, much less ask why.
His voice trembling, he poured out everything he knew.
“S…
Sir!
It’s currently the year 1521 of the Sea Circle Calendar!
“The biggest news happened a month ago.
A crewman named Teach from one of the Four Emperors, the Whitebeard Pirates, ambushed and killed his own division commander before deserting the crew!
He even formed his own pirate crew called the Blackbeard Pirates!” Afraid that he hadn’t said enough, he hurriedly added with a mournful face, “T…
That’s all I know!
“I’m just a nobody with an eight million Beli bounty.
People like the Four Emperors are way out of my league.
I only hear bits and pieces about them in taverns.
I really don’t know anything else!
Please spare me, sir!
Have mercy!” Having gotten the answers he wanted, Shinsuke swept his gaze across the wrecked merchant ship before glancing at the pirate ship tied alongside with heavy ropes.
His fingers tapped lightly against the hilt of his sword.
“Have your men set sail.
Head in that direction.” Hall froze for a moment.
Following the direction Shinsuke pointed with his chin, he saw the same stretch of sea the group had come from.
Hesitation flashed across his face.
There was nothing there except a deserted island.
Going back meant wasting time, and they might even lose their lives.
The thought had barely crossed his mind when Shinsuke stepped down with a sharp crack, crushing one of Hall’s uninjured fingers.
The agonizing pain shot through his body.
Hall shuddered violently, his mind instantly clearing.
“Y…
Yes, sir!
Right away!
We’ll do it right away!” He turned toward the stunned pirates and roared like a madman.
“What are you idiots standing around for?!
Didn’t you hear him?!
Move!
Set sail!
Head in the direction the sir pointed!
Hurry!” The remaining pirates had long since lost all courage.
They immediately scattered into action.
Some rushed for the merchant ship’s helm while others jumped back onto the pirate ship to raise the anchor and adjust the sails.
No one dared waste even a second.
Shinsuke lowered his gaze toward the few pirates still groaning on the deck, not quite dead yet.
His hands blurred through a series of seals in an instant.
“Lightning Release: Raiga.” The moment the cold command fell, a brilliant pillar of lightning erupted from his mouth.
Blue lightning tore through the air and pierced straight through the dying pirates.
They didn’t even have time to scream.
Their bodies were instantly charred black by the high voltage, and they died on the spot.
Pinned to the deck, Hall watched the scene with frozen blood.
He had forgotten the agony of his shattered finger and ruined eye.
All he could do was keep his head lowered, not daring to look at Shinsuke even from the corner of his eye, afraid that the slightest mistake would earn him the same fate.
Shinsuke ignored him completely.
He casually brushed the few specks of blood from his clothes, found a clean section of the railing untouched by blood, and sat down.
The salty sea breeze brushed across his face.
Leaning against the spotless rail, he slowly closed his eyes as his consciousness sank inward.
A pale blue system screen quietly unfolded before him.
[Clan System] [Host: Uchiha Shinsuke] [Affiliated Clan: Uchiha Clan] [Current Clan Influence: 2,000] [Available System Points: 2,000] [Activated Clan Traits: None] [Host Exclusive Ability: Indra’s Eye] [Current Reward: Clan Trait Draw ×1] Looking at the updated information, Shinsuke silently asked, ‘System, what exactly are Clan Traits?
And what are Clan Influence points used for?’ The system’s cold voice echoed clearly in his mind.
[Clan Traits grant corresponding attribute bonuses to every member of the clan once activated.
The higher the trait’s rank, the wider its coverage and the stronger its effects.] [Clan Influence is calculated from the clan’s population, territorial control, overall military strength, and prosperity.
It is settled once at the end of every month.] [After settlement, the system awards System Points according to the clan’s total Influence.
These points can be used to draw Clan Traits of different ranks, granting clan wide bonuses.] Shinsuke absentmindedly tapped the cold railing with his fingers before asking another question.
‘What ranks do Clan Traits have?
And how do I obtain them?’ [Clan Traits are divided into six ranks, from lowest to highest: White, Green, Blue, Gold, Orange, and Red.] The system’s voice remained as calm as ever.
[A White Trait costs 1,000 System Points per draw.
Green costs 5,000.
Blue costs 10,000.
Gold costs 50,000.
Orange costs 100,000.] [As for the highest rank, Red Traits cannot be obtained through point draws.
They can only be acquired by unlocking specific achievements.] Shinsuke raised an eyebrow and laughed inwardly.
‘So it’s basically a progression game?
Since I’m the host, I should at least get some special treatment, right?’ [Every time the host obtains a Blue rank Trait or higher, the host will also receive one bonus draw from the exclusive System Pool.] ‘Then what about the draw I have right now?’ Shinsuke immediately asked.
[This draw is an exclusive reward for completing the beginner mission while also earning the beginner achievement “Bide Your Time.” The guaranteed minimum is Blue rank, with a chance of obtaining a Red rank Trait.] ‘Wait…
It’s not guaranteed to be Red?’ Shinsuke nearly lost his composure.
‘So after all that, it’s still a gacha pool?’ [What game gives you the ultimate endgame reward right from the start?] the system replied matter of factly.
Shinsuke nearly choked.
‘…Were you made by EA?!’ ‘Whatever.
Let’s just draw it and leave it to luck.’ Left speechless by the system, Shinsuke waved his hand helplessly, took a deep breath, and suppressed the urge to laugh.
‘Begin the draw.’ The next second, the pale blue system interface lit up.
A massive roulette wheel appeared before him.
The pointer hummed to life, spinning rapidly across six colored sections, White, Green, Blue, Gold, Orange, and Red, until it became nothing more than a blurred streak.
Then it stopped.
A dazzling orange glow erupted across the entire system interface, wrapping even Shinsuke’s consciousness in its warm golden light.